Visiting Carnegie Mellon University on Thursday, Tepper told CNBC’s Scott Wapner on “Halftime Report” that it’s “dead wrong” to characterize players who have protested to promote racial equality, better policing and criminal justice reform as anti-military or anti-American. He added that those who’ve protested “are some of the most patriotic people and best people.”

“That was the biggest pile of bull-dingy ever,” he said. “These are some of the most patriotic people and best people. These are great young men. It just makes me so aggravated and angry. OK? It’s just wrong. It’s just dead wrong.”

Tepper backed his opinions by highlighting how much certain NFL players contribute to their communities, noting that many who’ve stood up — or knelt — for social justice have also done things to promote change.

The NFL on Tuesday released a statement that backing players who have raised awareness about social issues — including Colin Kaepernick, though they didn’t mention his full name.

“The National Football League believes in dialogue, understanding and unity. We embrace the role and responsibility of everyone involved with this game to promote meaningful, positive change in our communities,” the statement read.

“The social justice issues that Colin and other professional athletes have raised deserve our attention and action.”

The statement also highlighted some of the charitable work NFL players have done to support different causes. (Read more)

On Tuesday, the NFLPA filed a non-injury grievance on behalf of all players, and said in a statement, “This new policy, imposed by the NFL’s governing body without consultation with the NFLPA, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on player rights.” (Read more)

Click On Photo To Watch Video(CNN)LeBron James thinks the President is using athletics, and athletes, to split up the country. And he’s rejecting the premise like an opponent’s ill-advised layup.

“What I’ve noticed over the past few months,” James shared with CNN’s Don Lemon during a sit-down interview on Monday. “(Is) he’s kinda used sports to kinda divide us, and that’s something that I can’t relate to.”

The NFL rule says a player can stay in the locker room while the national anthem is played. However some coaches have taken it upon themselves to tell their players they must come out and stand.

So it is obvious those who have a problem with the players staying in the locker room and kneeling during the anthem is ignant to the facts, in denial or don’t give a damn about others freedom of speech. Oh but the same folk will say it is about freedom.